Match report: Scunthorpe United 0 Blackpool 0

A point apiece was a fair outcome from a match where neither side ultimately had the quality required to create any clear cut opportunities.

Seasiders’ boss Gary Bowyer had made two changes to the side which defeated AFC Wimbledon at Bloomfield Road seven days earlier.

Sean Longstaff’s sore Achilles had failed to heal in time, while Nathan Delfouneso was ruled out through illness.

It meant starts for Kelvin Mellor and Sessi D’Almeida as well as a change to a 4-5-1 line-up with Mellor on the right-hand side of midfield and Viv Solomon-Otabor on the left.

Solomon-Otabor was the Seasiders’ principal attacking threat in an opening half which was largely even until the hosts had the better of the chances with half-time approaching.

Pool keeper Ryan Allsop had an early let-off when his clearance went straight to Hakeeb Adelakun, who was crowded out on the edge of the area.

D’Almeida fizzed a shot across the face of goal at the other end as Bowyer’s players produced a steady rather than spectacular performance during the opening half-hour.

It was the final 15 minutes of the first half which finally saw the game begin to open up.

Josh Morris sent a free-kick into the Blackpool wall before Allsop was called into action, tipping over Paddy Madden’s header.

The Seasiders then broke from the resulting corner with Kyle Vassell finding Callum Cooke, whose shot was blocked.

Adelakun curled narrowly wide, Solomon-Otabor had an effort pushed out by Scunthorpe keeper Matt Gilks and Rory McArdle couldn’t turn Madden’s header goalwards.

It was Madden who again came close to breaking the deadlock just before the break with a shot which went just wide of Allsop’s right-hand upright.

The second half began in similarly scrappy fashion to the first with neither side able to get on top.

Despite some nice passing football, set pieces seemed to be Blackpool’s likeliest route to a goal with Solomon-Otabor not seeing as much of the ball as he did in the first half.

Vassell sent a 30-yard free-kick just wide of goal before Gilks turned over Ryan’s effort from 10 yards nearer the home goal.

At the other end, Paddy Madden headed off target with Allsop relatively untroubled, causing Iron boss Graham Alexander to introduce Lee Novak, Duane Holmes and Kevin van Veen.

Novak headed wide from Conor Townsend’s cross and prodded an effort straight at Allsop as the home side toiled away.

Bowyer introduced Will Aimson for D’Almeida to shore up the midfield; a tactic which paid off as they comfortably held out to claim a point.

Scunthorpe United: Gilks, Sutton, McArdle, Wallace, Townsend, Bishop, Ojo, Morris, Adelakun (Holmes 67), Madden (van Veen 80), Hopper (Novak 67). Subs not used: Watson, Clarke, Manton, Burgess.

Blackpool: Allsop, Turton, Robertson, Tilt, Daniel, Mellor, D’Almeida (Aimson 80), Ryan, Cooke, Solomon-Otabor, Vassell. Subs not used: Williams, Taylor, Clayton, Anderton, Philliskirk, Quigley.

Referee: Andy Haines.

Attendance: 4,290.